Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-21
HIS HONOR THE JUDGE.

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Silverton.
My visit to this rough mining town was
a matter of business, and / was somewhat
annoyed to find that the people were in
clined to talk of nothing but the killing
of Henry SeIon and the trial of his MUIR
derer.
But the story of the crime interested
me in spite of myself. The murder had
occurred in the Metr opolitan Hotel, the
very house in which I had engaged room
for a week.
The scene of the killing was the room
next to mine. Several days before my
arrival the room was occupied by John
Luff and Henry Saxon, two well-known
sporting men, who had been making
Silverton their head quarters during the
winter. The two were chums, bat some
times they quarreled in their cups, and it
was no uncommon thing for them to fight
After adjusting their differences, however,
they generally tumbled into the same
bed and slept like brothers. Their last
quarrel had fatal termination. After a
bout in the hotel Office they retired to
their room. Later in the night a loud
shout caused several of the guests to rush
in, and they saw a spectacle that froze
their blood.
On the bed was stretched the lifeless
form of Saxon, with q crimson current
gushing from his breast. By his side
stood Luff, one hand still bloody, and his
manner betraying fear and excite
ment.
The SiIverton miners and tradesmen
were not long in coming to conclusion.
The Coroner's jury made it out a case of
willful murder, and fastened the guilt up
on Luff. It was in vain that Luff express
ed his horror. He declared that some
one had entered his room. Awakened
by noise, he placed his hand on Saxon
and felt the warm blood flowing frsm the
wound. Springing to his feet he TUNED
on the light, and when he saw his dripping
hand and the dead body of his friend he
gave frienzied cry for help.
OF course, nobody believed this story.
To make the matter worse, a small dagger
belonging to Luff was missing from its
usual place on the mantel. 1t was only
too evident that the murderer had stab
bed his friend to the heart with this
weapon end had then concealed it. The
room was searched, but the dagger could
not be found. Doubtless Luff had thrown
it into the street, where it had been pick
ed up by some unknown person.
There is little delay about frontier
justice when victim is wanted, and in
this instance the whole town clamored
for one. Court was in session, and Judge
Pike shared the general excitement. He
was one Of the guests at the Metropolitan,
and the fact that his room was opposite
the one in which the murder was commit
ted naturally increased his interest in the
case.
With Judge Pike on the bench there
was little doubt concerning the results.
An Indictment was found in no time, and
the trial opened on the second day of my
stay in Silverton.
The defendants attorneys worked for
delay. They hoped that protracted
trial would have the effect of cooling the
hot excitement of the hour.
I spent the first day of the trial in the
court house, and watched the defendant
closely. Luff had a rather good face. Ii
was weak, but not vicious, and, as studied
him found myself sympathizing with
him.
That night had singular experience
After supper spent couple of hours In
Judge Pixies room, and it did not take
me long to come to the conclusion that
his Honor was a very peculiar man.
He could rot be called a crank, but his
nerves were evidently out of order, and II
occurred to me that he was liable to break
down at any time.
1t was past midnight when I awoke
The moonlight streamed into my room
making every object in it plainly visible
Feeling thirsty, left my bed and went
behind little screen in one corner of the
phar he 70
drink of water. While 7 was there
heard the door open softly. This was no
surprising, as the hotel was rude affair
and very few of the doors were provided
with locks and keys. The thought o.
Saxon's fate made me little timid, and
remained quietly behind the screen
awaiting further Developments.
To my unutterable establishment, wht
should enter the door but Judge Pike.
My first impulse was to speak, but wha
I saw silenced me. The Judge in hi
night clothes. One look at his face con
WINGED me that he was asleep. In hi
right hand he carried dagger.
What was / to do with this somnambu
list? 1t would be dangerous to awake him
! decided to wait and watch.
With stealthy steps the Judge advanc
ed to the side CT the bed. He felt eau
tiously with his left hand until he felt
bunch in the covering, and then, with tn
rapidity OF lightning, he drove his dag
ger into the bsdclothes up to the hill
He did not tarry second, but quietl
vanished from the room, closing the d~o
after him.
As soon as / could l barricadod tn
door with several pieces of furniture
Then quietly sat down to think the ma
ter over.
If the Judge was somnambulist, ther
was no telling what he might do. Wors
than that, there was no telling what
had already done.
thought of the Luff case. Could it b
possible that Judge Pike, in one of b
sleep-walking Ats, had killed Saxons
looked very much like it. And the dal